Tuesday, March 03, 2015

For the most part, the rush to the buzzer of Trade Deadline provided for much in the transit of the depth player and none for the most part in the blockbuster category on the day.

The roll out of the trades actually began before even TSN and Sportsnet could turn on the coffee maker, with two deals cobbled together in the overnight period, added to the 22 of Deadline Day coverage the 2nd of March featured 24 transactions in total.

The most active of the group on the day the Anaheim Ducks, who added five players to their roster with James Wisniewski the marquee get, adding a valuable piece for the Ducks as they make ready for the Western Conference battles to come.

GM Bob Murray, a student of the road that is required to navigate out of the West, made some solid moves to give his squad every opportunity to have a deep playoff run, perhaps all the way to June.

For the most part, the Ducks did the best job on Trading Day of filling in some holes and setting up some solid depth for the playoff marathon that they hope to be a participating in.

Detroit was fairly quiet on Monday, in fact the Wings only made one on deadline day, but it was an important addition on the blue line, with Marek Zidlicky sliding into the D spot, putting an end to the heated commentary that Dion Phaneuf would soon be on his way to the Motor City.

Ken Holland, the architect of the Red Wings also added Erik Cole on Sunday, another solid acquisition with Cole's style of play sure to be a good fit with the high energy Red Wings.

Montreal was another team that made some astute additions, while giving up little on the day, keeping a high flying unit together, a group that no doubts hopes to make the push deep into the playoffs. Marc Bergevin quietly identified the areas where he wanted to make moves at, in particular addressing his needs on the blue line, while putting in some additional help on the forward lines.

One more team rounds out the four big winners that we've tagged for a successful day at the Deadline phone banks, and for the Winnipeg Jets, the Deadline Day sweepstakes were won back on February 11th when Kevin Chevaldayoff made the biggest splash of all, by sending Evander Kane to Buffalo picking up Tyler Meers and Drew Stafford, as well as keeping two prospects and pick in his pocket for the upcoming draft.

It solved a number of issues for the Jets, a team that is starting to find its skates as the season winds down, the distraction of the Kane issues now far behind them, Chevaldayoff has given the nod of confidence in his core group, leaving it up to them now to make the next step in the Jets blue print.

It was an impressive move in February and nothing that took place on Monday overshadowed the Jets decision making. As we move into March, the Jets are hanging tough in the Wild Card race, should they continue on towards the playoffs, the moves from their GM will be of some note for those looking to build a contender with a trade deadline clock running loud.

Monday, March 02, 2015

The Buzzer sounds on Deadline Day 2015 with word that perhaps a few more items may trickle through as confirmation notices are delivered for the last minute moves.

TRADE ALERT3 PM/Noon

Chris Stewart is on his to Minnesota as the Sabres and Wild work a deal ( NHL Trade Alert )

Stewart learns of his fate from the TSN panel which have reached him on the phone, over at Sportsent there is some discussion on the relief that he will be feeling at finally having all the trade speculation at an end for him.

TRADE ALERT3 PM/Noon

The Penguins and Anaheim make a swap with Ben Lovejoy heading back to the Penguins where he first broke into the league, Simon Depres will be moving to the Ducks ( NHL Trade Alert )

The TSN team offer up some thoughts on what this may mean for Depres as he gains a bit of extra attention in Anaheim.

TRADE ALERT 3 PM/ Noon

It's unusual to see the Canucks and Flames talking about much of anything, such is the long running rivalry between the two teams, but on deadline day, even old feuds can take a break. Towards a more harmonious era, the Flames are sending Sven Baertschi to the Canucks in exchange for a second round draft pick ( NHL Trade Alert )

As they wait for more deadline notices to arrive, the TSN panel weighs in on Boston and their lack of movement and how that may play out as the season winds down.

The parade of the Canadian GM's begins in Ottawa as Bryan Murray outlined how he was looking to make a deal, but that none of the prospective opportunities provided enough value for Ottawa to make a trade. The Senators will now turn their thoughts to Draft Day and by June may move one of their defence men. He observes that while its unusual not to make any moves on deadline day, he did offer up to the Senators scouts and trade day team that there may not be much action on the day.

TRADE ALERT3 PM/ Noon

Boston finally makes it to the trading listings, as a last minute move sends Maxim Talbot off to Colorado in exchange for Jordan Caron ( NHL Trade Alert )

TRADE ALERT 3 PM/Noon

Columbus continues to make some moves with James Wisniewski off to the Ducks in exchange for Rene Bourque, William Karlsson and and a second Round pick in the 2015 draft ( NHL Trade Alert)

Kevin Cheveldayoff is next up on the tour of the GM's as he outlines the moves made by the Winnipeg Jets on deadline day and where Winnipeg is at heading down the playoff stretch. He offered up how he was trying to address some of the holes that had started to appear and that he believes that the jets are a better team today than they were a few days ago. Chevaldayoff commented on the early trades of February and how they perhaps provided the Jets with a bit of an advantage in swinging deals.

From Winnipeg the Edmonton Oilers were next up on the review of Canadian cities. With Craig MacTavish offering up his thoughts on where the Oilers sit after deadline day and heading into the June draft period. He noted that it's never a great day as a team when you're seller and not a buyer, but that the Oilers need to keep their mind on the fact that they are the 29th team in the league. MacTavish counselled patience for the Oilers fans suggesting that the team is getting closer to their goal,while at the same time highlighting many of their shortcomings. He made mention as to how the players still want to play in Edmonton,

TRADE ALERT3 PM/Noon

The Leafs make one more move on deadline day sending Korbinian Holzer to Anaheim, adding more to the Ducks blue line moves in the trading period. ( NHL Trade Alert )

TRADE ALERT3 PM/ Noon

Anaheim kept up their pace past the trade buzzer, advising of a deal with Anaheim that sees Michal Sgarbossa coming to the Avalanche while Matt Clark heads to Colorado ( NHL Trade Alert )

TRADE ALERT3 PM/Noon

Boston makes another late entry to the listings, with word of a deal with Minnesota as Jared Knight suits up for the Wild, and Zack Phillips moves to the Bruins for their playoff push ( NHL Trade Alert)

The Maple Leafs were next up on the press conference circuit as Dave Nonis passed along some of his thoughts on the day. Making note of the long day that deadline becomes and how the Leafs now will move forward with the remaining games of the schedule. On the day he offered up that he did as much as he could and had hoped to make a few deals but there was no value available at deadline time. With no good fits and only small adjustments for the team on the day. The focus on the future will look to build the Leafs into a competitive group, with an eye on the summer and the opportunity that summer brings these days to move large contracts. As to how the current roster of Leafs should approach the rest of the season, that he said was a conversation he will hold with the team only.

Vancouver's turn at the microphone found GM Jim Benning offering up that he didn't really want to give up on his young picks, which set the balance in place for the Canucks as they made their trade day decisions. Expressing confidence in the current roster players, he further reviewed that they weren't shopping any of their Unrestricted players as there just wasn't good value available for them. On the Sven Baertschi trade, he reviewed that he didn't know what had change for the player in Calgary, but that he projects him to be a top six in the future, adding that Baertschi fits the Canucks profile of fast and skilled players. He also acknowledged that there were some inquiries made about Zach Kassian, but that his play in recent weeks has been noted, advising that Kassian has made some contributions and that nothing that was offered made any trade of the player of much sense. The same concept was put forward about Chris Higgins who Benning described as the glue in the room and that the thought of moving him was never really something the Canucks had considered.

Calgary dropped the biggest bombshell of the day and it had nothing to do with trading players, as GM Brad Treliving advised that captain Mark Giordano was to have surgery this week and will be out for the remainder of the season. As for the trade day developments he offered up some background on the Baertschi trade, advising that the player had requested a trade and advised he would not resign when his entry level contract expires. He expressed confidence in the current group and while they received lots of calls on the day, the Flames just couldn't find a fit that they liked.

Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin never quite made it to a microphone for the TSN rolling revue, but a short overview of their trade day developments highlighted the nature of the depth positions that Montreal filled, while not making any changes to the key players of the roster that have put Montreal in the playoff hunt this year. And while the trades weren't of a blockbuster nature, the Habs GM did indeed provide for some key moves that should serve the Canadiens well down the stretch and into the playoffs.

The final hour arrives, with our moderators and correspondents holding out hope for a frantic rush to the deadline hour for the final sixty minutes of Deadline Day 2015.

Dave Hodge has re-convened the Reporters panel to review the Sabres moves and how it may impact on their lottery hopes for Draft Day in June. With some discussion on what in the world Ted Nolan must be thinking as his line up shifts and managements focus shifts towards draft day.

They then pivot to a discussion with Chad Stewart who in the space of just a few seconds has gone from a Stanley Cup contender to a squad that is looking to pick up as many tickets in the Draft Day lottery as possible.

TRADE ALERT2:05 PM/11:05 AM

Vancouver makes its first deal of the day, as the Canucks and Islanders work out a deal that sees Cory Connacher moving into the Canucks system, while Dustin Jeffrey is off to Long Island ( NHL Trade Alert)

The Focus for TSN in this early part of the final hour is a look at how players on teams that have waved the white flag on the season and seek to position themselves for draft picks, with the Sabres making for much of the discussion on this theme.

TRADE ALERT2:15 PM/11:15 AM

Columbus and Minnesota make a move, with Jordan Leopold on his way to the Wild from the Blue Jackets. With Justin Falk bound for Columbus along with a 5th round pick in the 2015 draft ( NHL Trade Alert )

TSN marks the move to Minnesota as one of the Wild adding some depth for their playoff run ahead.

Sportsnet which was first to reveal the moves out of Minnesota offer up a bit of insight before shifting focus to those teams that haven't made any moves on deadline day, with Boston getting a fair amount of attention.

TRADE ALERT2:20 PM/11:20 AM

The Islanders continue to make some moves sending goaltender David Leggio to the Arizona Coyotes, no word on what is to be delivered to Long Island was announced at the time of the trade
( NHL Trade Alert )

TRADE ALERT1:25 PM/11:25 AM

The Olli Jokinen era in Toronto was quick and mercifully short for the Finn, as the Leafs send him off to St. Louis for Joakin Lindstrom and a potential fourth round draft pick ( NHL Trade Alert )

As the final half hour starts to tick down, TSN makes the rounds of the Canadian teams, stopping in with Winnipeg, Vancouver and Edmonton, with few inclinations that any further moves from those to locations that anything else is coming down the line on Deadline day.

Sportsnet turns to Strombo to get some insight from Neil Smith and Doug MacLean, calling on their days as GM's and how they negotiated the final minutes of the Trading deadline.

Over on TSN, Pierre McGuire is keeping his eyes on Montreal to see if they pull the trigger on any other movements on the day.

James Duthie outlines the nature of a letter from Jordan Leopold's daughter to the management of the Minnesota Wild, explaining how his exile in Columbus has impacted on the family and Leopold himself. Her work on the day making his daughter perhaps one of the best player agents in the business today.

Sportsnet is turning its attention to Boston and what move they might make as the deadline approaches.

TRADE ALERT1:55 PM/11:55 AM

Montreal and Buffalo swing a deal at the buzzer with Torrey Mitchell heading to the hans in exchange for a prospect and Draft pick ( NHL Trade Alert )

Sportsnet picks up the theme of young Ms. Leopold and her negotiations wit the Wild in recent days, which have brought her Dad to Minnesota.

The fascination with Bob Hartley's cel phone so far has made for much of the Deadline day coverage, as both of the large Canadian sports networks try to divine his intentions through his conversations during the Flames practice.

On more tangible items, the move in the last hour that saw the Hawks and Sharks swing a deal gets a bit more of a review, with Sportsnet discussing some of the issues that currently are haunting the Sharks as they try to stem their slide out of the playoff race.

TRADE ALERT1:05 PM/10:05 AM

The Red Wings add more depth on the blue line as the Devils send Marek Zidlicky to Detroit, Zidlicky seemingly waiving the no trade provisions of his contract. A third round conditional pick is destined to head the way of the Devils ( NHL Trade Alert)

The move by Detroit seems to bring to an end any speculation that the Red Wings are going to make a move to acquire Dion Phaneuf, which makes for a bit of discussion on sportsnet. TSN weighs in with the theme that its a solid move by the Red Wings, with Craig Button calling it a security move on the part of Detroit.

TRADE ALERT1:20 PM/10:20 AM

San Jose continues to shift some of their moving parts sending Tyler Kennedy to the New York Islanders. The Sharks gain a conditional pick in the 2016 draft in exchange ( NHL Trade Alert )

TSN was the first to deliver news of the San Jose - Islanders deal, something they've been pretty solid at through the day. They then move back to the cel phone workings of Dennis Wideman, as they review how he and the Flames had a little fun with the Television mania that has become deadline day. For the record, for the moment, Wideman confirmed that he had not been traded by the Flames.

Animation domination breaks out at TSN, as they review their Hockey Panel super heroes and their super powers, showcasing that there is a future for animation/multi media students at community colleges and universities across the nation.

Following the animation review, came an animate discussion as each of the TSN team in the spotlight reviewed their special talents.

Turning back to the hockey review, TSN heads back out to their correspondents at the Canadian camps/

TRADE ALERT1:33 PM10:33 AM

Pittsburgh and St. Louis exchange a pair of players, with Ian Cole heading to Pittsburgh, in exchange for Robert Bortuzzo and a seventh round pick ( NHL Trade Alert)

Sportsnet finally gets the jump on TSN with the Penguins/Blues deal, offering up a bit of insight into that deal

A pause for a moment if you will for Chad Johnson, who woke up this morning as part of the New York Islanders roster, the prospect of a Stanley Cup run no doubt high among his thoughts. Banish those thought Chad, banish them, you're off to purgatory as the Sabres and Islanders swing a deal. New York picks up Michal Neuvirth to add some depth to their goaltending plans heading towards the playoffs. The Sabres also receive a 3rd round pick in the deal ( NHL Trade Alert)

The moves out of Buffalo lead to some discussion on just how hard they now plan to position themselves in the Connor McDavid sweepstakes. With a quick turn around, the TSN team offers up a look at what the Sabres have done so far and compared their moves with some recent memories of tanking in the past.

Sportsnet offers up the revelation that Neuvirth didn't learn of his trade by way of watching Trade coverage on television.

Noon - 1 PM9 - 10 AM
With only five deadline deals to discuss thus far on the Television spectaculars, the moderators and panel members urge us to remain steadfast, with the prospect of much movement they say to come as the deadline hours dwindle down to the 3 PM Eastern deadline.

Montreal making for the most discussion in the launch of this hour, with a pair of moves for the assembled to review.

Waiver moves from the NHL teams is taking up some of the slack, though for the most part there isn't a lot of drama to be found from reassigning players to and fro.

Sportsnet reviews the prospect deals for the Winnipeg Jets, while TSN is advising us that Bob Hartley gets very good cel phone reception at the rink as the Calgary coach is reportedly carrying around his cel phone during the Flames practice this morning.

Erik Cole is offering up some of his thoughts on the prospect of joining the Detroit Red Wings, his deal one of the Sunday movements that signalled some of Detroit's inclinations at deadline time.

A panel discussion on the moves of the Red Wings highlights how the team always seems to find the players that they need, when the need them. Leading to some speculation that they may make a move for Dion Phaneuf, but at the moment the Leafs ask is a little high.

Damien Cox reviews his notes on why the Buffalo Sabres haven't moved Chris Stewart as of yet, suggesting that cost for impact is key. He also looks at the St. Louis move to pick up Zbynek Michalek, which would make their acquisition a solid choice should he return to play.

TSN launches its review of where the Vancouver Canucks may be on deadline day. Sportnset for their part takes a peek into the Canucks War Room, as the Vancouver brass discuss their plans for the day.

Farhan Lalji offers up some observation on whether the Canucks will be buyers or sellers, the panel for their part concentrate on what moves Vancouver may make in the nets, something that seems to be a constant theme whenever a discussion on Canucks hockey comes up.

The panel however make note of the change in culture in Vancouver this year and how players not only want to stay in the city, but the prospect of attracting others to the team is in a much better spot than last year.

They break away from the Canuck discussion, to return with their fascination on Bob Hartley and his cel phone conversations from practice.

The Maple Leafs are the topic of note over on Sportsnet, as they review the spiral downwards of the Leafs season and where it all leaves Dion Phaneuf as the deadline clock continues to tick.

Back on the cel phone front, it appears that the Flames Dennis Wideman is having some fun at the expense of the sharp eyed cel phone watchers, speaking on a phone of his own to add to the fascination/mystery with the Flames practice.

Sportsnet delivers their version of the Anaheim Trade Tree, tracing the evolution of a number of moves in recent years that delivered Ryan Kessler to the Ducks.

They then shift their focus to Ottawa and a look at what moves the Senators may make as they try to grab a playoff spot down the stretch. Cap space seems to be the main issue of note for Ottawa on deadline day.

TSN's review of things in San Jose turns into a larger discussion on how to treat goaltenders, Ron Wilson recounts his days in Toronto and if you're Justin Pogge you're turning the sound down on your television at this point.

Sportnset heads out to San Jose as well, but not to talk about the Sharks or goaltenders, but rather to explore some of the moves made by Montreal, the Habs are in San Jose for a game with the Sharks.

TSN is back with the Reporters, giving Thumbs up to the New York Islanders and Garth Snow's moves to rebuild the Islanders this season. David Poile's work in Nashville is also getting the accolades from the Reporters panel.

TRADE ALERT12:50 PM/ 9:50 AM

Chicago and San Jose work out the mechanics of a deal as Andrew Desjardins heads for Chicago with the Sharks picking up Ben Smith from the Hawks ( NHL Trade Alert)

10 AM ET- Noon7 AM PT - 9 AM PT
For those that missed their early morning wake up call the workload was light in the first two hours, with only one trade up for discussion from the assembled media panels and prognosticators.

Our second segment gets underway with TSN bringing out their Reporters panel, as Dave Hodge, Bruce Arthur, Michael Farber and Steve Simmons discuss whether the Nashville Predators will be making any moves. The consensus is that they are Stanley Cup favourites and that holding to their roster is probably the most sensible move at this time.

Sportsnet is reviewing the Montreal Edmonton deal, highlighting some of the benefits that Jeff Petry will be brining to the Canadiens blue line.

TSN starts touring some of the locations that have picked up players over the weekend, with Washington getting attention from its work of the last 24 hours.

Sportsnet is hosting a panel discussion on how players are impacted by the trade deadline dramatic, with former players Nick Kypreos, Mike Johnson and Kelly Hrudey looking back at their memories of deadline time.

TSN has an update out of Toronto, with Dave Nonis apparently advising that unlike past years, he will not be available for interviews during the deadline process, which leads to speculation that the Leafs are cooking up some work ahead.

Sportsnet offers up a review as to when exactly the Trade Deadline became the domain of the TV networks and the madness that descends at this time, offering up a number of the early moments of coverage that set the bar for these marathon sessions of late. Scott Morrison relives his first arrival in the era of Sports television and how the glare of the TV lights changed the nature of the Deadline Day activities.

They carry that theme on with their panel looking back at where they were when the deadline arrives and the trades start to move forward.

TRADE ALERT10:45 AM/7:45 AM

TSN was first out of the gate with the second trade of the televised day, as the Montreal Canadiens keep up with their tweaking, picking up Brian Flynn from the Buffalo Sabres for Draft picks. (NHL Trade Alert)

With the news delivered and they await further details, the return to reviewing where the Winnipeg Jets might go on this Deadline Day.

Sportsnet is a little behind the curve on the announcement of the Flynn trade, with a quick mention they return to their look at blockbuster player trades of the past, focusing on the Eric Lindros era and the drama of his selection in the draft by the Nordiques and subsequent trade to Philadelphia.

TRADE ALERT10:50 AM/7:50 AM

TSN once again gets the jump on a breaking trade, outlining that Zybnek Michalek is moving on to the St. Louis Blues from the Arizona Coyotes. Michalek however is currently on the injured list, recovering from a concussion, with no timeline of return known yet. The Coyotes will receive UDC Maxim Letunov in exchange ( NHL Trade Alert )

Sportsnet may have missed out on the first notice of the Michalek trade, but they were first to claim the defenceman for an interview, asking as to his health, but not gaining any further info on his return to the lineup.

TSN is next in line at the Michalek switchboard, going over much the same material with TSN's James Duthie as he had with the Sportsnet team.

For TSN a lot of the focus now is on whether the Coyotes have started up the much anticipated Fire Sale of 2015.

With the Coyote talk out of the way, TSN goes to the phone with a conversation with the Jets GM Kevin Chevaldayoff.

Following their chat with the Jets GM, TSN turns its attention to Edmonton and what direction the Oilers have to go moving forward, suggesting that there is a culture of entitlement there that needs to be addressed.

Sportsnet is discussing the Montreal moves of the early morning, focusing on the thought that perhaps today's plan is leading to a much larger deal to come.

Strombo sets up in a corner of the Sportsnet studio with Wendell Clark and Craig Simpson review their impressions of Draft Day dynamics.

A note for the folks producing these shows, while we know you're familiar with the panelists, guests and other participants, sometimes it helps the audience at home to put some names up on the screen to tweak our aging memories...

With little trade activity taking place, TSN is trolling llama lovers everywhere, with their own version of last week's now famous llama chase.

Sporstnet is chasing down thoughts on whether Connor McDavid could end up a Maple Leaf on Draft Day.

TSN looks to stir up the social media portals, offering up some "helpful" twitter and Instagram suggestions for trending topics.

The Reporters on TSN discuss the legalities of the Leafs/Blue Jackets trade of February 26th, and whether it was a creative move or a transaction that should have been disallowed. The consensus is that it was salary dump.

Sportsnet closes off the hour with a discussion with Alan May and Brent Ashton, on the nature of trade day deadlines, the two former players rather familiar with that phone call or knock on the door.

TSN is winding down the hour wondering about whether the Leafs can find a way to move Dion Phaneuf before the 3 PM deadline arrives.

With Sunday bringing a flurry of trades, our hosts on both networks are already speculating as to the work level ahead for them. They ease into the day with an early trade within the first hour, making the career of Jeff Perry one that was much for review for the next one to follow.

TRADE ALERT

The ice breaking moment for the day come relatively early this year as the Edmonton Oilers and Montreal Canadiens swing the first deal of countdown day (Boston/ technically had the first deal of the day in the wee, wee, hours of the day) Jeff Petry leaves the exile of the NHL in Edmonton, heading off to join the Stanley Cup contending Montreal Canadiens. (NHL Trade Alert)

And Mr. Petry will carry the weight of the program for the first two hours of Trademaggeddon 2015.

His move, marking the only trade thus far, leaving our hosts to look at depth charts and in the end spend a lot of their time wondering which teams will make the playoffs and if a trade today might aid in that cause.

Sunday, March 01, 2015

With a flurry of late activity into Sunday evening and even early Monday morning, the hosts and panelists at the Sports Networks might be getting a little nervous that Deadline Day may provide for a fair amount of solo oratory over the course of Monday morning into the afternoon.

As TSN, Sportsnet and others prepare their major battle plans for the day ahead, GM's were quietly moving some parts here and there, swinging ten deals over Saturday and into early Monday morning, bringing the total of trades conducted since the start of the season to 45 to this point.

Some of those previous transactions perhaps the big deal for a few of the teams, Winnipeg moving Evander Kane probably ranks among the most widely discussed to this point, the name recognition of Jaromir Jagr heading to Florida more of a interesting aside than a strategic debate.

The Maple Leafs beginning the process of yet another new era has made for a bit of background to the trade rumours of late, injuries as well are providing for some focus, as teams like Chicago seek to keep their momentum heading in the right direction despite the hospital reports.

Then there are the teams that are on the cusp of the Wild Card spots or battling it out in a tough division race, one or two additions could make the difference between finishing out of the Stanley Cup playoffs and making May and June hockey months in their hometowns.

Through Monday morning the deals will percolate, some will come to pass, others will fade as quickly as they were cooked up, a small detail or change of dynamic making the original draft no longer a blue print for playoff success.

As the networks, GM's and players settle in for the Deadline Day decisions, we'll return to our live blogging approach to the day's events, keeping an eye on the developments, highlighting the one's that may change the future for a team and giving the ole What the hell, to some of the others that may leave us scratching our heads.

You can catch up on the deals as Monday Morning dawns from our Archive page, which we will update through the day, as we post our notes to the blog all the way to the final buzzer.

Our Hour by Hour Archives can be found below as Deadline Day moves forward.

Somewhere out there someplace, an aspiring satirist is pulling Dionne Warwick's classic ode to San Jose and reworking the lyrics, hmm, lets see. "woe for way", yes that'll work but wait...

A quick look over the song sheet suggests, that Burt Bacharach may have had it down pretty good in the original,"I may go wrong and lose my way", "Dreams turn into dust and blow away", turns out that there may not be that much to change after all.

When it comes to the Sharks and their dreams of a Stanley Cup parade, this year (and like a few in the past), things are only getting worse as each week passes by it would seem... with San Jose once again the ultimate enigma of the NHL.

As the Sharks make ready for Monday's trade deadline, the prospect of making just one or two moves to secure a playoff spot seems more like wishful thinking, as opposed to a constructive project that might turn the tide of trouble that San Jose finds itself in at the moment.

We are among the legions of those that each year head into an NHL season and go, surely this is the year that the Sharks finally reach the Stanley Cup Final.

And, yet here we are, with the playoffs just over the horizon now, and things are getting more dire by the minute for the Sharks.

Blowing large leads, a home losing skid that left them without a win at home through February and an ongoing inability to find the answers to another puzzling season, all of it combining to leave even the thought of a Wild Card spot, starting to set in the Western sky off of Northern California.

Whether they've stopped listening to head coach Todd McLellan is now the least of the Sharks worries.

At this level and with as many veterans as they have on the San Jose roster, the Sharks should at least have some idea how to turn around the woeful spiral they are in, unless of course they don't want to, leaving GM Doug Smith some very large questions to start asking.

There seem to be structural problems with how the Sharks are approaching their work, chemistry and confidence issues as well, growing concerns that at the moment probably make the Sharks roster somewhat hard to move, even if GM Doug Smith wanted to swing some kind of major swap to try and salvage the Sharks season.

How he negotiates Deadline Day will offer up some suggestion as to the road ahead, but all indications to this point seem to indicate that unless Smith has a sudden change in his outlook for his team, the Sharks will be heading into the stretch with much the same group.

Considering the line up of talent that has been assembled for the last few years, one line from Dionne's California tribute seems to define the spot the Sharks find themselves in at this moment.

And all the stars that never were, are parking cars and pumping gas...